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2021-03-31-accounts

REGISTERED COMPANY NUMBER: 01893924 (England and Wales) REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 291484

BRIXTON ADVICE CENTRE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021

Berringers LLP Lygon House 50 London Road Bromley Kent BR1 3RA

BRIXTON ADVICE CENTRE

CONTENTS OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS for the year ended 31 March 2021

Page
Reference and administrative details 1
Report of the trustees 2 to 5
Report of the independent auditors 6 to 8
Statement of financial activities 9
Balance sheet 10
Notes to the financial statements 11 to 17

BRIXTON ADVICE CENTRE

REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS for the year ended 31 March 2021

TRUSTEES K Power (resigned 9.12.20)
W F Taggart
H L Thompson
J Cottage
N Catto
D McCollum
G R J Beaton
D Macloughlin
J L Malbon
V Tilakapala (appointed 1.9.21)
L Bertholdi-Saad (appointed 1.9.21)
C J Stanley (appointed 1.9.21)
COMPANY SECRETARY G R J Beaton
REGISTERED OFFICE 167 Railton Road
Herne Hill
London
SE24 OLU
REGISTERED COMPANY 01893924 (England and Wales)
NUMBER
REGISTERED CHARITY 291484
NUMBER
AUDITORS Berringers LLP
Lygon House
50 London Road
Bromley
Kent
BR1 3RA

Page 1

BRIXTON ADVICE CENTRE (REGISTERED NUMBER: 01893924)

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES for the year ended 31 March 2021

The trustees who are also directors of the charity for the purposes of the Companies Act 2006, present their report with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2021. The trustees have adopted the provisions of Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019).

OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES

The Board of Trustees

The Council of Management for the year 2020-21 comprised eight trustees. The Memorandum and Articles of Association allow for up to twelve trustees and the Council of Management has therefore agreed to conduct a recruitment process both to strengthen its numbers and range of expertise, and to broaden its representation as to better reflect the community the Centre serves. The Council of Management met on a monthly basis during the year and also held an Annual General Meeting. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the AGM in December 2020 had to be held online. However, eight of the nine trustees then serving were able to attend online without incident, and the decision to hold this meeting online was retrospectively approved at an in person EGM on 1 September 2021.

Sadly, we said good bye to one of our longest serving trustees, Kathy Power, who decided not to seek re-election at the AGM. Kathy has been involved with the Centre for many years and was a vital link with the local community. Her services over decades were extremely important to the Centre and she will be greatly missed.

Objectives and Aims

The principal objectives of the Brixton Advice Centre (the Centre) are to promote access to justice by providing good quality legal advice, assistance and representation to people who would otherwise be unable to afford legal services. The full statement on the Centre's Vision, Mission and Values is publicly available on its website: https://brixtonadvice.org.uk/serving-the-community-since-1966/

The Centre continues to improve and, wherever possible, expand and diversify the services we provide. However, services during the pandemic period were affected by government-ordered closures of businesses and work from home directives. Nevertheless, the Centre continued to provide a full service throughout this period by means of telephone, video conferencing and a new 'online forms' initiative. The existing open-door drop-in service also provided a service between 10am and 12pm Monday to Thursday when the restrictions allowed on-site working and office opening. People were also seen by prior appointment where appropriate. In addition, the Centre provided outreach services at a number of locations, including Brixton Food Bank.

Throughout the year staff collected statistical information about clients that was then collated to detail the numbers of clients assisted, demographic information, and the nature of the enquiries. This was used for internal monitoring and service planning, and compliance with funder requirements. The data demonstrated that clients now no longer come mainly from the local Brixton area but from across the borough.

Public benefit

The Trustees consider that the objectives and activities of the Centre provides public benefit within the meaning and terms of the Charity Commission.

Volunteers

The Centre continued to enjoy the support of a range of volunteers who assisted with the day-to-day administration of the charity, and the delivery of advice services. It provided many with appropriate opportunities to increase their employability prospects and, in particular, further advance the careers of some in the legal profession and other areas connected with legal rights and remedies e.g., public policy. The Trustees considered it important to provide opportunities for volunteers who are seeking to return to, or secure, employment, particularly local people.

This year the Centre was successful in obtaining funding from the Walcot Foundation for a Volunteer Co-ordinator post, for which we are extremely grateful. This enabled us to invest heavily in to developing the Centre's volunteering plans and ambitions, and to ensure that volunteer time was most effectively used.

Page 2

BRIXTON ADVICE CENTRE (REGISTERED NUMBER: 01893924)

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES for the year ended 31 March 2021

ACHIEVEMENT AND PERFORMANCE

Charitable activities

We are pleased to report that the Centre dealt with over 2,400 new advice matters in the reporting year in addition to the existing casework on a large number of ongoing cases. Staff secured significant financial gain for clients in respect of resolving welfare benefits, debt and housing issues that, in turn, provided positive economic impacts on the local community. Other areas of legal advice offered by the Centre have also had a significant impact locally, including the advice offered through the newly developed Online Legal Clinic, which is provided pro bono by volunteer solicitors and barristers in areas of law in which the Centre is not directly funded to work, such as employment, contract, family and criminal law. The Clinic's fast development at the outset of the pandemic, along with its innovative use of technology and impactful services delivered, led to the Online Legal Clinic beating off stiff national competition to win the prestigious national award for Best Contribution by a Pro Bono Clinic at the LawWorks awards held in December 2020, whilst also, to our delight, being nominated in other categories.

The Centre has throughout the year continued its long-established tradition of partnership working with others to ensure as strong an advice service as possible is delivered in the borough. This included playing a significant role in the group set up by Lambeth Council to coordinate the most appropriate, flexible and impactful responses to the issues arising out of the pandemic for the local community.

Fortunately, the Centre had planned ahead for a potential full lockdown in the year due to the COVID-19 pandemic and was ready and able to move all its operations to remote working at the time the first national lockdown was announced. Partnership work and enhanced service delivery was made possible by additional funding from Lambeth Council, City Bridge Trust, Community Justice Fund, Trust for London, Walcot Foundation and The National Lottery. This ensured that the Centre not only continued to deliver its much-needed existing services during the pandemic, but also developed new services, employed new staff and was able to adapt to the new environment and the difficulties the Lambeth community was facing.

The staff and volunteers worked hard to review the systems and procedures needed to maintain compliance with the various quality standards to which the Centre adheres, including the Lexcel practice management standard. Their achievement was recognised by Council of Management with a vote of thanks recorded at meeting held at the year-end and we are also happy to record it here.

FINANCIAL REVIEW

Financial position

Details of the financial transactions of the Centre are given in the accounts. The grant from the London Borough of Lambeth continues to be a crucial source of core funding, which for the year ended 31 March 2021 was increased to £127,000 of which £45,000 related to additional Covid-19 support and £1,000 related to a one-off additional grant in respect of non-core services. The Debt Free London Project continues to fund the debt advice service with £38,707.

On the Unrestricted Fund, total income of £168,799 was received and expenses for the Centre amounted to £124,016 which leaves a surplus of £44,783 for the year. The reserves are considered sufficient to allow the charity to meet its current and future objectives. The total Unrestricted Funds to be carried forward is £466,103.

The Centre is exempt from taxation under the provisions relating to charities.

The Centre continues to exercise especial care in respect of cash-flow and this is subject to regular ongoing monitoring and remains a high management priority.

Principal funding sources

The principal funding sources of the Centre continues to be the London Borough of Lambeth, the Legal Aid Agency, The City Bridge Trust and, during the year under review, the Money and Pensions Service (Debt Free London) funded partnership. We record our gratitude to them all.

Reserves policy

As part of our Reserves Policy, the Trustees aim to increase the reserves held by the Centre to a point where the net current assets are at least equal to 6 months expenditure, in order to enable the Centre to weather any possible reductions or changes in funding levels, reflecting the overall possible future reductions in public expenditure.

Page 3

BRIXTON ADVICE CENTRE (REGISTERED NUMBER: 01893924)

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES for the year ended 31 March 2021

FUTURE PLANS

The Centre continued its outreach work, which included providing advice sessions at local foodbanks. This work was funded by City Bridge Trust. It also continued to receive funding via the Money and Pensions Service funded Debt Free London project, with Toynbee Hall being the lead grant holder and the Centre a sub-grantee. The funding for this project, both to the Centre and other sub-grantees in London, was reduced by over 30% in April 2020, shortly after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. This followed the lead grant holder implementing a new funding model and taking certain support functions in-house. It was decided not to enter into a new contract with Toynbee Hall that would otherwise have commenced April 2021 and, instead, we sought to diversify funding into other areas and more collaborative and productive partnerships.

The Centre has significantly developed its volunteering policy by recruiting people new to the advice sector, so increasing the number of trained advisors in the sector and developing more opportunities for paid employment. The Centre's Strategic Plan, together with the fundraising strategy, is being reviewed and developed to reflect this.

As well as working closely with the foodbanks in Lambeth, the Centre has also blazed a trail in other aspects of its food poverty work, and, in particular, continues to collaborate with Lambeth Larder, an innovative local initiative formerly funded by Lambeth Council.

The Centre is keen to develop further partnerships in order to provide a more diverse service to the community.

The Council of Management wishes to record its thanks to the funding bodies and their staff for their support during what has been an exceptional and difficult year.

Staffing

We are sad to record the death from a sudden illness of one of our employees, Gary Martin. Gary had been with the Centre only for a short time, working as a Benefits Advisor but he soon became established as an effective and engaging member of staff greatly valued by his clients and colleagues. He is greatly missed.

The Council of Management also places on record its recognition of the massive contribution made by our Chief Executive Officer who has adapted the Centre to the unforeseen and challenging circumstances of the Pandemic, and guided and managed the staff and volunteers in these exceptional times.

STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT

Governing document

Brixton Advice Centre was incorporated on 8 March 1985 as a company limited by guarantee and was registered as a charity on 18 April 1985. It is therefore governed by a memorandum and articles of association.

Recruitment and appointment of new trustees

The Centre is controlled by Trustees who are elected to the Council of Management at the Annual General Meeting. Trustees are recruited through advertisements and word of mouth, with particular emphasis on the need to reflect the local community. All directors of the company are also trustees of the charity, and there are no other trustees. All the trustees named served at some point during the year apart from those trustees appointed after the year end. The Council of Management has the power to appoint additional trustees as it considers appropriate to do so. Once a new trustee has been appointed by the Council of Management they are inducted by the Chief Executive with the assistance of the Officers of the Council of Management. All prospective trustees must agree to the Centre's Trustee Code of Conduct before being accepted as a Trustee of the Centre.

Organisational structure

The Centre is organised so that the Council of Management meets regularly to manage its affairs. The Centre has a full-time Chief Executive who is accountable to the Council of Management and who manages the day-to-day administration of the charity.

Key management remuneration

Key management remuneration
2021 2020
as restated
£ £
Key management compensation 54,967 52,069

Page 4

BRIXTON ADVICE CENTRE (REGISTERED NUMBER: 01893924)

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES for the year ended 31 March 2021

STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT

Risk management

The Council of Management regularly reviews the major risks the charity faces and has agreed that it will continue its efforts to increase reserves to the equivalent of 6 months running costs so as to ensure it has a reasonable level of resources in the advent of unforeseen circumstances. The Council of Management has also examined other operational and business risks faced by the charity and confirms they have established systems to mitigate the significant risk.

The Council of Management always seeks to ensure it reflects a range of skills and experience sufficient to oversee the running of the organisation.

The finance sub-committee continues to oversee detailed financial management issues. Day-to-day management of the Centre is devolved to the Chief Executive, who reports directly to the Council of Management and provides it with written and verbal reports as appropriate at each meeting. The Chief Executive also advises the sub-committees. There are agreed terms of reference for the Council of Management and the two sub committees. A series of Trustee Papers on key aspects of the work of the Centre have been developed to ensure the smooth induction of new Trustees. The Papers cover Governance issues as well as essential legislation and funding issues specific to the Centre.

Every member of the Centre undertakes to contribute an amount not exceeding twenty-five pence in the event of winding-up of the Centre whilst they are a member or, within one year after their membership has ceased.

TRUSTEES' RESPONSIBILITY STATEMENT

The trustees (who are also the directors of Brixton Advice Centre for the purposes of company law) are responsible for preparing the Report of the trustees and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

Company law requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charitable company for that period. In preparing those financial statements, the trustees are required to

The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charitable company and to enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charitable company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

In so far as the trustees are aware:

AUDITORS

The auditors, Berringers LLP, will be proposed for re-appointment at the forthcoming Annual General Meeting.

Approved by order of the board of trustees on 15 December 2021 and signed on its behalf by:

G R J Beaton - Trustee

Page 5

REPORT OF THE INDEPENDENT AUDITORS TO THE MEMBERS OF BRIXTON ADVICE CENTRE

Opinion

We have audited the financial statements of Brixton Advice Centre (the 'charitable company') for the year ended 31 March 2021 which comprise the Statement of financial activities, the Balance sheet and notes to the financial statements, including a summary of significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

In our opinion the financial statements:

Basis for opinion

We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditors' responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the charitable company in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the UK, including the FRC's Ethical Standard, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.

Conclusions relating to going concern

In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the trustees' use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is appropriate.

Based on the work we have performed, we have not identified any material uncertainties relating to events or conditions that, individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on the charitable company's ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least twelve months from when the financial statements are authorised for issue.

Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the trustees with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of this report.

Other information

The trustees are responsible for the other information. The other information comprises the information included in the Annual report, other than the financial statements and our Report of the independent auditors thereon.

Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and, except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in our report, we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon.

In connection with our audit of the financial statements, our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the audit or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether this gives rise to a material misstatement in the financial statements themselves. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact. We have nothing to report in this regard.

Opinions on other matters prescribed by the Companies Act 2006

In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course of the audit:

Page 6

REPORT OF THE INDEPENDENT AUDITORS TO THE MEMBERS OF BRIXTON ADVICE CENTRE

Matters on which we are required to report by exception

In the light of the knowledge and understanding of the charitable company and its environment obtained in the course of the audit, we have not identified material misstatements in the Report of the trustees.

We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters where the Companies Act 2006 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion:

Responsibilities of trustees

As explained more fully in the Trustees' responsibilities statement, the trustees (who are also the directors of the charitable company for the purposes of company law) are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as the trustees determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.

In preparing the financial statements, the trustees are responsible for assessing the charitable company's ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the trustees either intend to liquidate the charitable company or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.

Our responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements

Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue a Report of the independent auditors that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance, but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial statements.

Irregularities, including fraud, are instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations. We design procedures in line with our responsibilities, outlined above, to detect material misstatements in respect of irregularities, including fraud. The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud is detailed below:

In identifying and assessing risks of material misstatement in respect of irregularities, including fraud and error, we considered the following:

Our procedures to respond to risk include the following:

A further description of our responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements is located on the Financial Reporting Council's website at www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of our Report of the Independent Auditors.

Page 7

REPORT OF THE INDEPENDENT AUDITORS TO THE MEMBERS OF BRIXTON ADVICE CENTRE

Use of our report

This report is made solely to the charitable company's members, as a body, in accordance with Chapter 3 of Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the charitable company's members those matters we are required to state to them in an auditors' report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the charitable company and the charitable company's members as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.

Paul Allan BSocSc FCA (Senior Statutory Auditor) for and on behalf of Berringers LLP Lygon House 50 London Road Bromley Kent BR1 3RA

15 December 2021

Page 8

BRIXTON ADVICE CENTRE

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES (INCORPORATING AN INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT) for the year ended 31 March 2021

Unrestricted
funds
Notes
£
INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM
Donations and legacies
5,922
Charitable activities
3
Provision of legal advice
162,768
Investment income
2
109
Total
168,799
EXPENDITURE ON
Charitable activities
4
Provision of legal advice
124,016
NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE)
44,783
Transfers between funds
14
394,416
Net movement in funds
439,199
RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS
Total funds brought forward
26,904
TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD
466,103		 Restricted
funds
£
-
180,066
-
180,066
180,066
-
(394,416)
(394,416)
394,416
-		 2021
Total
funds
as
£
5,922
342,834
109
348,865
304,082
44,783
-
44,783
421,320
466,103		 2020
Total
funds
restated
£
2,809
276,489
210
279,508
280,105
(597)
-
(597)
421,917
421,320

The notes form part of these financial statements

Page 9

BRIXTON ADVICE CENTRE (REGISTERED NUMBER: 01893924)

BALANCE SHEET 31 March 2021

Unrestricted
funds
Notes
£
FIXED ASSETS
Tangible assets
9
393,411
CURRENT ASSETS
Debtors
10
76,585
Cash at bank and in hand
188,586
265,171
CREDITORS
Amounts falling due within one year
11
(149,483)
NET CURRENT ASSETS
115,688
TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT
LIABILITIES
509,099
CREDITORS
Amounts falling due after more than one year
12
(42,996)
NET ASSETS
466,103
FUNDS
14
Unrestricted funds
Restricted funds
TOTAL FUNDS		 Restricted
funds
£
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-		 2021
Total
funds
as
£
393,411
76,585
188,586
265,171
(149,483)
115,688
509,099
(42,996)
466,103
466,103
-
466,103		 2020
Total
funds
restated
£
395,635
82,330
83,853
166,183
(140,498)
25,685
421,320
-
421,320
26,904
394,416
421,320

These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to charitable companies subject to the small companies regime.

The financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees and authorised for issue on 15 December 2021 and were signed on its behalf by:

G R J Beaton - Trustee

The notes form part of these financial statements

Page 10

BRIXTON ADVICE CENTRE

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS for the year ended 31 March 2021

1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Basis of preparing the financial statements

The financial statements of the charitable company, which is a public benefit entity under FRS 102, have been prepared in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102) 'Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019)', Financial Reporting Standard 102 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland' and the Companies Act 2006. The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention.

Critical accounting judgements and key sources of estimation uncertainty

In the application of the charity's accounting policies, the trustees are required to make judgements, estimates and assumptions about the carrying amount of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. The estimates and associated assumptions are based on historical experience and other factors that are considered to be relevant. Actual results may differ from these estimates.

The estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognised in the period in which the estimate is revised where the revision affects only that period, or in the period of revision and future periods where the revision affects both current and future periods.

Income

All income is recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities once the charity has entitlement to the funds, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably.

Expenditure

Liabilities are recognised as expenditure as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to that expenditure, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all cost related to the category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings they have been allocated to activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources.

Governance costs

Governance expenditure includes all expenditure not directly related to the charitable activity or fund raising ventures. This includes costs of legal, professional and audit fees.

Tangible fixed assets

Depreciation is provided at the following annual rates in order to write off each asset over its estimated useful life.

Freehold property - 0 - 10% on cost Fixtures and fittings - 50% on cost and 25% on cost

Assets are reviewed regularly for impairment and the residual value confirmed and no adjustment deemed necessary.

Taxation

The charity is exempt from corporation tax on its charitable activities.

Fund accounting

Unrestricted funds can be used in accordance with the charitable objectives at the discretion of the trustees.

Restricted funds can only be used for particular restricted purposes within the objects of the charity. Restrictions arise when specified by the donor or when funds are raised for particular restricted purposes.

Further explanation of the nature and purpose of each fund is included in the notes to the financial statements.

continued...

Page 11

BRIXTON ADVICE CENTRE

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued for the year ended 31 March 2021

1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES - continued

Hire purchase and leasing commitments

Rentals paid under operating leases are charged to the Statement of financial activities on a straight line basis over the period of the lease.

Pension costs and other post-retirement benefits

The Centre participates in a stake holder pension scheme and contributes 5% for each participating employee.

2. INVESTMENT INCOME

Deposit account interest
3.
INCOME FROM CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES
Activity
Grants
Provision of legal advice
Legal Aid & advice
Provision of legal advice
Amount received from City Bridge Trust
Amount paid to Centre 70
Amount relating to Brixton Advice Centre		 2021
a
£
109
2021
a
£
344,259
(1,425)
342,834		 2021
a
£
109
2021
a
£
344,259
(1,425)
342,834		 2020
s restated
£
210
2020
s restated
£
223,595
52,894
276,489		 2020
s restated
£
210
2020
s restated
£
223,595
52,894
276,489
2021 2020
a s restated
£ £
61,000 61,500
33,462 22,476
27,538 39,024

The funding received from City Bridge Trust, although shown gross, relates to Centre 70 and funding made directly to Brixton Advice Centre on behalf of both them and Centre 70. Shown above are the total amounts received from City Bridge Trust and the related payments made to Centre 70. The trustees consider that Brixton Advice Centre is not making a grant directly to Centre 70, it is merely passing the funds on due to its role as lead applicant. A prior year adjustment has been made to reflect this. The accounting treatment differs from that of The National Lottery Community Fund grant due to City Bridge Trust requesting it be presented in this way. Without this adjustment the grants received figures would be £310,797 for 2021 and £201,119 for 2020.

The grant received from The National Lottery Community Fund has been reduced by payments to Centre 70:


2021
2020
2021
2020
as restated
£ £
Amount received from The National Lottery Community Fund 81,225 -
Amount paid to Centre 70 40,013 -
Amount recognised as income 41,212 -

Brixton Advice Centre is in partnership with Centre 70. As the lead applicant they receive funds on behalf of Centre 70 and pass them on. They are not making a grant to Centre 70 themselves.

continued...

Page 12

BRIXTON ADVICE CENTRE

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued for the year ended 31 March 2021

3. INCOME FROM CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES - continued

Grants received, included in the above, are as follows:

Lambeth Borough Council
Capitalise Partnership re DTI
City Bridge
Access to Justice
The National Lottery Community Fund
Trust for London
Walcot Foundation
Toynbee Hall
CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES COSTS
Direct
Costs
£
Provision of legal advice
299,132		 2021
a
£
127,000
-
61,000
38,194
41,212
20,870
17,276
38,707
344,259
Support
costs
£
4,950		 2020
s restated
£
103,250
58,845
61,500
-
-
-
-
-
223,595
Totals
£
304,082

4. CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES COSTS

5. NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE)

Net income/(expenditure) is stated after charging/(crediting):

2021 2020
as restated
£ £
Auditors' remuneration 4,950 4,800
Depreciation - owned assets 9,003 7,312
Hire of plant and machinery 2,550 8,804

6. TRUSTEES' REMUNERATION AND BENEFITS

There were no trustees' remuneration or other benefits for the year ended 31 March 2021 nor for the year ended 31 March 2020.

Trustees' expenses

There were no trustees' expenses paid for the year ended 31 March 2021 nor for the year ended 31 March 2020.

continued...

Page 13

BRIXTON ADVICE CENTRE

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued for the year ended 31 March 2021

7. STAFF COSTS

The average monthly number of employees during the year was as follows:

Advice Services
Administration		 2021
as
6
1
7		 2020
restated
6
1
7

No employees received emoluments in excess of £60,000.

8. PRIOR YEAR ADJUSTMENT

The 2020 financial statements have been restated to show the City Bridge Trust grant income as gross as detailed in note 3. There was no change to the net expenditure as a result.

9. TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS

TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS
COST
At 1 April 2020
Additions
At 31 March 2021
DEPRECIATION
At 1 April 2020
Charge for year
At 31 March 2021
NET BOOK VALUE
At 31 March 2021
At 31 March 2020		 Freehold
property
£
505,056
-
505,056
110,640
6,919
117,559
387,497
394,416		 Fixtures
and
fittings
£
23,843
6,779
30,622
22,624
2,084
24,708
5,914
1,219		 Totals
£
528,899
6,779
535,678
133,264
9,003
142,267
393,411
395,635

The Freehold property was previously considered restricted as per the terms of the Big Lottery Grant (now known as The National Lottery Community Fund) that was granted to purchase and refurbish the property. In 2019 The National Lottery Community Fund approved a policy decision to reduce the Asset Liability Periods for historic grant agreements and the Asset Liability Period under the grant agreement for this property expired on 24 November 2009. The National Lottery Community Fund confirmed the Centre is released from the restriction.

continued...

Page 14

BRIXTON ADVICE CENTRE

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued for the year ended 31 March 2021

10. DEBTORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR

2021
a
£
Trade debtors
-
VAT
6,302
Prepayments and accrued income
70,283
76,585
11.
CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR
2021
a
£
Bank loans and overdrafts (see note 13)
7,003
Trade creditors
17,645
Social security and other taxes
5,619
Other creditors
7,500
Client monies
55,995
Accrued expenses
55,721
149,483
12.
CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE AFTER MORE THAN ONE YEAR
2021
a
£
Bank loans (see note 13)
42,996
13.
LOANS
An analysis of the maturity of loans is given below:
2021
a
£
Amounts falling due within one year on demand:
Bank loans
7,003
Amounts falling between one and two years:
Bank loans - 1-2 years
9,803
Amounts falling due between two and five years:
Bank loans - 2-5 years
33,193		 s
s
s
s

Page 15

continued...

BRIXTON ADVICE CENTRE

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued for the year ended 31 March 2021

14. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS

Unrestricted funds
General fund
Restricted funds
Capital Reserve re premises
TOTAL FUNDS
Net movement in funds, included in the above are as
Unrestricted funds
General fund
Restricted funds
Foodbank
Coronavirus Community Support Fund
Debt Free London
Trust for London
Walcot Foundation
TOTAL FUNDS
Comparatives for movement in funds
Unrestricted funds
General fund
Restricted funds
Capital Reserve re premises
TOTAL FUNDS		 At 1.4.20
£
26,904
394,416
421,320
follows:		 Net
movement
in funds
£
44,783
-
44,783
Incoming
resources
£
168,800
62,000
41,212
38,707
20,870
17,276
180,065
348,865
At 1.4.19
£
20,582
401,335
421,917		 Transfers
between
At
funds
31.3.21
£
£
394,416
466,103
(394,416)
-
-
466,103
Resources
Movement
expended
in funds
£
£
(124,017)
44,783
(62,000)
-
(41,212)
-
(38,707)
-
(20,870)
-
(17,276)
-
(180,065)
-
(304,082)
44,783
Net
movement
At
in funds
31.3.20
£
£
6,322
26,904
(6,919)
394,416
(597)
421,320

Page 16

continued...

BRIXTON ADVICE CENTRE

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued for the year ended 31 March 2021

14. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS - continued

Comparative net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:

Unrestricted funds
General fund
Restricted funds
Capital Reserve re premises
Foodbank
TOTAL FUNDS		 Incoming
resources
£
197,258
-
82,250
82,250
279,508		 Resources
Movement
expended
in funds
£
£
(190,936)
6,322
(6,919)
(6,919)
(82,250)
-
(89,169)
(6,919)
(280,105)
(597)

Transfers between funds

The Freehold property was previously considered restricted as per the terms of the Big Lottery Grant (now known as The National Lottery Community Fund) that was granted to purchase and refurbish the property. In 2019 The National Lottery Community Fund approved a policy decision to reduce the Asset Liability Periods for historic grant agreements and the Asset Liability Period under the grant agreement for this property expired on 24 November 2009. The National Lottery Community Fund confirmed the Centre is released from the restriction. The property has been transferred from restricted to unrestricted funds.

15. RELATED PARTY DISCLOSURES

There were no related party transactions for the year ended 31 March 2021.

16. CLIENTS BANK ACCOUNTS

2021 2020
as restated
£ £
Monies held in client bank accounts 55,995 60,160

Page 17